St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-06-25
AMONG THE oYPSlES.

A Time OF Day when They Give Them
selves Up to Cnrestrained Enjoyment.
Probably ut meals and in the long
evenings. bright with camp-tires and
melodious with merriment, is the Gypsy
man or woman most truly this good
natured and genial animal that never
reveals meanness and ever acts with
genuine. unstudicd goodness. The
breakfast. though always 3 meal OF
CHEEKY brightness, is taken with little
jollity, for the duties and doings of the
lay are ahead of them all. The dinner
is seldom regular meal. for there are
but few in camp. and the old men. old
women. children and dogs have every
thing their own way. But the supper
is overiowing with good things and
good spirits. and all sorts Ut pranks are
allowable. The camp has suddenly
filled up with thrce-fourths Of its mem-
bers. who have been away during the
day on divers expeditions. and the
breeziness and activity consequent upon
the return have brought the camp =
wonderful life and vigor. The substan-
tials for the meal have been sizzing
and simmering from the kettle-sticks
for hours. These are all accounted
for; but there is an element of
pleasure and surprise in many lit
tie garnishments which find their way
into camp with the incoming troop Ut
Gypsies. The cloths-usually rubber
blankets with linen spreads upon them
are laid upon the clean grass plats;
every body helps at bringing the dishes
and food; laughter and badinage go
hand in hand with preparation; and the
rcpast itself. be it sumptuouA rs il
often is, or meager. rs it is not often, is
washed down by more genuine mirth
and hearty merriment-and. l must
confess. with something thought
stronger. .Sometimcs-thanf falls to the lot
of but few in this world. however much
rood fortune enters into their condition.
II stragglcrs from town come and
stare at them with exasperating calm
ness. as though the Gypsies were AMI
mails in some geological garden. .
sudden hush falls upon the feast until
the intruders retire. or the merriment
goes on in their own, tongue and under
faces Of ridiculous solemnity. From tho
return. however. until the long. slowly
taken meal is ended. there are such
rallyinys Of friends. such greetings Of
husbands and wives, brothers and
sisters. parents and children. such
kindly notice of the old. old folk. such
revelry with babies. and such proud.
glad heart-word for every body. that no
earnest eyes can look upon it all and not
moisten. because all this is so true Of an
outcast race, and 80 barren and meager
| in the homes of our own people. where
too often insincerity. ambition and
hcartlessness have taken the place Of
those tender things which are the saliva
ton Of a land through its homes.
Then the evcntime grows and glows
again with this good nature. There il
not another care or thought-weight on
the Gypsy's mind. All give themselves
up to unrestrained enjoyment The
great fires are piled high. and seem t.
crackle and sing an added accompany
ment Of happiness. High up along thu
trce-trunks are hung cressets filled with
fiaring knots. The fires below shut
out even the light Of the blazing star.
above, and draw the night and dark,
lovingly interlaced with century-old
tree-arms. over the bright place like a
protecting canopy. BY this Campfire
is crowd merrily playing At cards
which the Gypsics love. BY another
and another are groups telling old tale.
or singing old songs. In between and
all about are happy children playing al
hide and-seek in the flash and shadow
Of the camp. Over there are a score o
tawny forms dancing with the freeslon
and gayety Of lads and lasses to tn
music Of some tinker violinist witt
sways and weaves and stamps and
shouts. enraptured by his own vocifer ,u'
melodies. Everywhere are simple
hearted peace and content-Edgsr L
Wakemas. in Chicago NeCa
Electric lamps are now used b.
the pearl fishers,